What a great weekend! It was fun seeing everyone & getting to meet Sue & Michelle. Courtney & Rob are total grownups now (well, ok - as much as any of us are). And I think Jim managed to enjoy things despite the semi-bedlum in the house.

Thanks Cory

Thanks Cory for the Dodge Ball DVD.

Saturday's Italian Feast & Golf Outing @ Stoneridge

Future Rock Stars (Kelsey, Rob & Courtney) provided an after dinner concert.

Nancy & Michelle slaved away the afternoon in the kichen. Their menu consisted of Michelle's Italian Manicotti & meatballs, real Caesar salad dressing, & Nancy's infamous chocolate chip cookies. Yum, Yum. According to Sue & Joan, there were 0 points in this meal. And there was enough garlic to keep the vampires miles away.

Jim, Rob, Tom, Sue & Rita shot a couple of holes of golf at Stoneridge before the brisk wind & spitting rain drove everyone off the course.

Saturday Brunch Feast

Thanks to Nancy & Tom Smith for your assistance the week of 3/15. The daily chauffeuring Jim to his Radiation treatments, walks along the country road, conversations, watching tennis & basketball were special times.
The food was absolutely wonderful. The Irish feast of Corned Beef & Cabbage on Friday was very festive.

I just had to put in the Saturday Breakfast by Sue , Rita & Nancy. We're trying to keep everyone's joints lubricated with lots of cheese & grease with a smidgen of other carbs & proteins (Waffles, eggs) and some fruit in the fresh oj -- courtesy of Sue's Arizona orange trees.

Special thanks to Tawney & Tom Nelson for last Sunday's dinner. The BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, baked beans & salad were Ummmm, Ummmmm good for several days.

Radiation doc

Well, the visit with the radiation doctor was a non-event. Basically he just wanted to meet to answer any questions Jim and his family may have. He did mention that they may perform a CT about a month after they finish the radiation treatments to see if the tumors have shrunk.

Thursday am update

Just to let you know Jim was able to logon to the blogspot Tuesday night so he has seen all of your comments...he has also checked his email account, so please keep the comments and jokes coming :)

Rita has some pictures of visitors (see below) and these will hopefully be posted on the blog soon.

Visitors since Sunday
Tom and Nancy from Sacramento, CA have been staying with Jim this week, making him food and taking him to his appointments, thanks!

Corey stopped by and dropped off Dodgeball, which was watched Tuesday night (I love that movie and wish I could have been there to watch it)

Of course Rita has been stopping by everyday. Bridgette has also been visiting. Courtney has been staying at the house (and I think Mr. Bands too).

I've probably missed someone...sorry if I did.

This weekend Rob will be coming up and enjoying his Spring Break. Sue Olson (Rita's sister) from Phoenix, AZ will be coming up on Friday until Monday to enjoy our rainy Oregon weather. Michelle Avoilo from Portland, OR will also be visiting over the weekend.

That is it for now. I'll update again tomorrow morning and let you know what the Radiation Doctor says today.

Monday night

Hey all,

I spoke with Jim on the phone last night and he sounded great...just like his old self. Such a difference from a week ago when he speech was slow and broken. Thank goodness for the steriods and radiation!

He spent the day getting his 3rd radiation treatment and obtaining new glasses, since his old frames broke last week. The eye doctor was kind enough to remove the one contact that Jim couldn't get out for the last few days...it must be nice to be able to see again.

Not much else to update you on, the next big event will be on Thursday when he sees the radiation doctor after his 6th radiation treatment.

Becky

Evening of March 14th

Last night we enjoyed a yummy dinner of Costco lasagna, broccoli and fresh baked Albertson's bread. Here is a picture of Kelsey, Rob, Jim, Mel and Courtney hanging out after our well balanced meal.

Becky

Rob Hill attacking the pantry of doom. We all know that canned foods can eventually blow up if left unattended for 6 or more years. Rob and I were warned to glove up,wear face masks, and have proper ventalation. It has been 4 hours since we dived in. We still have all our fingers and toes.

Along with the Hazmat cleaning of the exploded canned goods we also came across many historic food labels. Rita suggested we open a museum or better yet lets put them on ebay and see what we can get for them!!! Any bids??

While Rob continued with the pantry (rganizing, tossing, controlling cross contamination), Jim had some friends from work (Tom and Brice)stop by for a chat.

Saturday, March 14-Update

Let me start with Rita, Mel, Rob, Courtney and I had a great evening last night. We ate Papa Murphy's pizza, watched TV and visited...Jim was even making jokes. It was good to see his sense of humor back.

Just to update every one. During the week it was discovered that Jim has a lemon sized tumor in his lung, he also has lesions on his liver and it has spread into his brain. They performed a biopsy on his lung and discovered he has melanoma (I doubt I spelled this correctly). They started radiation treatment on Friday and he had his second treatment this morning at 8am. Rita, Mel, Courtney, Rob, Kelsey and I were all there to see the procedure...we actually took pictures which are posted above.

Once Jim finishes his 10 radiation treatments (the last is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th) we will know more information about what the future may hold.

For those who want to know more about melanoma you can visit the following website:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma

or just google melanoma and you will get a ton of hits.

Today two of Jim's co-workers visited which was great! Jim's college friends Tom and Nancy are driving up from Sacramento tomorrow and will be staying with Jim to help shuttle him to his radiation treatments next week. I also hear Nancy is great in the kitchen so I'm sure Jim will have some fabulous meals. Thanks Tom and Nancy.

Courtney and Rob have finals next week and will be around the week of Spring Break to get Jim to his final 3 treatments.

I just want to add how great it is to hear from all of Jim's friends and co-workers...it is great to know how many people love Jim and are thinking of him. Thanks to everyone who has offered help...we will definately be taking you up on it in the near future.

So keep checking in and feel free to post any comments/thoughts you may have.

Becky

Hi Jim

Hi Jim,

Just wanted you to know that I found your website and that I plan to follow it religiously, which is to say, anyone who doesn't believe as I believe will be burned at the stake.

Jason

March 13

I talked to Mel last night and she learned that Jim maybe released from the hospital today. They were waiting for his first radiation treatment. He will be receiving 10 treatments over a two week period.

Mel and I are heading to Medford today.

I think Rob is heading to Medford this weekend.

Sue is planning on going to Medford next weekend.

Becky

March 12, 1:47 pm.

Heys guys, Here is what I know as of this morning. Jim was admitted to the hospital from the ER yesterday. They have on him on the oncology floor 3E at Providence in medford (Providence Medford Medical Center 1111 Crater Lake Ave, Medford, OR ) in room 3034. His direct line to the room is 732-9334. Rita was present when the oncologist was making his rounds. They were able to discuss his history of melanoma, and determine where he had that removed and when. The oncologist decided to cancel the bone scan that was scheculed for today, based on the fact that they have confirmation of metastatic cancer in his brain from the CT that was done yesterday. The oncologist also discussed that instead of doing the CT guided lung biopsy on Friday that he wanted to do a liver biopsy because it would be easier to access the liver lesions vs. the lung mass. Many things are still up in the air at this time. Jim case has not been officially assigned to an oncologist. Dr Sean T. Hehn, MD from Hem Onc associates was the oncologist that saw him yesterday. Dr. Hehn also said that a radiaton oncologist would be getting involved due to the evidence of metastic disease in his brain. The CT image yesterday showed a lesion on the LT parietal lobe, this helps explain Jim being so confused and and not making any sense when having a conversation with him. Steroids are being adminstered to help with the pressure of the lesion. Rita said that they have all ready seen an improvement in Jims balance over an 7 hours time of getting the steroids. Jims speak is still slow and he has a hard time finishing a sentence but he is able to to eventually get it out. I do not know how long Jim will be in the hospital. What I do know is that it is great to know that things are happening and that we have the people involved that will be of great support during this time. It is amazing to think of all that has been done in just three days time time!! So that is all I know at this time. I plan on calling Rita later this afternoon to get more info. Melanie Ilten

History - March 10th PM

Hey guys,I just wanted to send out an email to summerize all the information that we know at this time. -Today we found out that Jims CT of the abdomen showed lesions on his liver and a lesion in his lung. -The following diagnostic scans have been ordered: a MRI of the brain, a CT guided biopsy of the lung, and a bone scan. -The MRI is scheduled for 7pm on wednesday 3/11. Rita will be taking Jim to that procedure.-The CT guided biopsy is scheduled for friday 3/13 at 1 pm. Joan will be taking Jim to that procedure. -The bone scan is scheduled for friday 3/20. No arrangements have been made yet for that. I am going to talk with my connections tomorrow about the doctors that Rita mentioned: Dr. Susan Kohler and Dr. Alison D. Savage at the Hemocology Oncology Ass. in Medford. Mel

History - update emails

March 10, 2009

Hey guys, I wanted to keep you all posted as to what is going on with Jim. Jim had a contrast enhanced CT of his abdomen yesterday. Rita is with Jim right now. She arranged for an appt with his physician at 2:15 today. At the visit Rita is going to discuss Jims altered state with the physician and request for CT of his head today. I will be calling Rita after work to find out more info. Mel